Technical Information Rev. 2, July 2010 DuPont Vamac An Alternate Accelerator for Vamac Terpolymers: Vulcofac ACT 55 Introduction DOTG (di-ortho-tolyl guanidine) is an accelerator used in sulfur-cured elastomers like natural rubber, SBR and NBR. It is also used in the curing system of ACM and AEM elastomers containing an acidic cure site and in certain EPDM compounds. DuPont Vulcofac ACT 55 (tertiary amine complex) is an accelerator developed and commercialized by Safic-Alcan in 2006 as an alternative to guanidine accelerators like DOTG. Please read and understand the MSDS before handling and use of Vulcofac ACT 55. This study compares the properties obtained with Vulcofac ACT 55 in Vamac ethylene acrylic elastomer terpolymer compounds with compounds cured with a combination of a primary diamine as curing agent and a guanidine as accelerator. The two guanidine accelerators considered in this study are: DOTG (=di-ortho-tolyl guanidine) providing good compression set and high modulus DPG (=diphenyl guanidine) providing good flex fatigue resistance For handling precautions, processing and safety information, please refer to the Safe Handling and Processing of Vamac and Vamac Compounds available from www.vamac.dupont.com. Formulation A design of experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of Vulcofac ACT 55 in a Vamac G recipe. Eighteen Vamac compounds using Vulcofac ACT 55 were tested in this study (see Table 1). In parallel, three standard Vamac G recipes using DOTG and/or DPG were selected as a reference for seals and hoses made from Vamac compounds. All Vamac compounds were mixed in the same conditions (full cooling, load factor = 70%, rotor speed = 40 rpm, mixing time = 180 seconds and dumping temperature = 85 C) using a 1.6 L Francis Shaw Intermeshing internal mixer. All ingredients, except for curatives, were charged using an upside-down mixing technique.
Table 1. DOE (Design of Experiment ) with DuPont Vulcofac ACT 55 Control Compounds 1 2 3 Vulcofac ACT 55 Variations 2 runs 1 run 1 run DuPont Vamac G 100 phr 100 phr 100 phr 100 phr Naugard 445 2 2 2 2 Sterling SO N-550 60 60 60 60 Vanfre VAM 1 1 1 1 Rhenosin W759 10 10 10 10 Stearic Acid 1.5 1.5 1.5 0 and 1.5 phr Armeen 18 D 0.5 0.5 0.5 0, 0.075 and 1.5 phr Diak No. 1 1.5 1.25 1.25 1, 1.5 and 2 phr Ekaland DOTG/C 100% 4 2 Rhenogram DPG 80% 2 4 0, 0.5 and 1 phr Salicylic Acid 0, 2 and 4 ph Vulcofac ACT 55 Rheological Properties A. Mooney Viscometer Results The three control compounds have similar viscosity and scorch behavior (see Table 2). Table 2. Control Compounds Mooney Viscometer Results ML (1+4) at 100 C, (MU) 34.1 33.8 33.6 37.1 MS at 121 C, t2, min 6.3 6.1 6.2 5.4 MS at 121 C, t5, min 8.9 8.5 8.6 7.7 All Vamac compounds that contain Vulcofac ACT 55 are scorchier and therefore higher in Mooney than control compounds using DOTG and/or DPG according to the results presented in Figure 1. Vamac recipes using Vulcofac ACT 55 should be corrected by adding more retarding agent like Armeen 18D or Salicylic Acid in order to reach a scorch similar to DOTG or DPG. Figure 1. DOE with Vulcofac ACT 55 Mooney Viscosity Results 2
B. Moving Die Rheometer Results All compounds were tested in the same conditions using MDR equipment (conditions: 0.5 /12 min at 180 C). Control 1 compound (1.5 phr Diak 1 + 4 phr DOTG), a standard recipe used for seals and gaskets, clearly has a higher crosslink density (higher MH) and higher cure rate (higher peak rate) than the 2 other Vamac compounds: Control 2 (= 1.25 phr Diak 1 + 2 phr DOTG/2 phr DPG) and Control 3 (= 1.25 Diak 1 + 4 phr DPG) have been considered for hose applications (see Table 3). Table 3. Control Compounds MDR Results ML, dnm 0.35 0.37 0.37 0.44 MH, dnm 12.30 9.17 7.66 10.97 Tc50, min 1.96 1.63 1.51 2.12 Tc90, min 5.37 5.06 4.51 6.48 Peak rate, dnm/min 4.3 3 3.4 4.1 Vulcofac ACT 55 is similar to DOTG in cure kinetics of Vamac compounds as can be seen in Figure 2. Vulcofac ACT 55 should cure slightly slower than DOTG. Figure 2. DOE with Vulcofac ACT 55 Moving Die Rheometer results Physical Properties of Cured Compounds A. Mechanical Properties Vamac slabs were molded by compression during 5 min at 180 C and post-cured 4 h at 175 C in an air circulating oven. Test specimens were die-cut from slabs. Vulcofac ACT 55 seems to bring about a higher hardness level and lower elongation than DOTG in Vamac compounds when comparing Table 4 and Figure 3. 3
Table 4. Control Compounds Mechanical Properties Hardness, Shore A, 1 sec 69.8 69.3 68.3 72.2 Modulus 100%, MPa 4.8 4 4.1 5.7 Tensile Strength, MPa 15.6 14.8 13.9 14.6 Elongation, % 325 369 328 281 Tear Crescent Die C. Fmax, dnm/min 26.8 28.2 29.0 23.6 Figure 3. DOE with Vulcofac ACT 55 Mechanical properties B. Compression Set There are several test procedures commonly used to measure compression set. The standard test is ASTM D395 (VDA 675 216A or ISO815) which requires samples to be removed from the clamps immediately after removal from the oven. Alternatively, procedures VDA 675 216B (often applied for Daimler Chrysler parts) and VDA 675 218 (identical to Volkswagen specification PV 3307) ask for measurement of compression set after cooling the test pieces within the clamps. As a result these tests give significantly higher compression set values as shown in Table 5. Table 5. Control Compounds Compression Set ASTM D395, 70 h at 150 C, 6 mm molded pips 19% 23% 28% 24% ASTM D395, 70 h at 150 C, VDA 67521B 2 h cooled in clamps, 6 mm molded pips 27% 34% 42% 30% VW PV 3307, 94 h at 150 C, 2 mm disks 58% 58% 77% 61% VW PV 3307, 22 h at 175 C, 2 mm disks 59% 62% 77% 58% 4
Figure 4 shows that Vulcofac ACT 55 has compression set performance comparable to DOTG (see Table 5) so the sealing force should be similar for both DOTG and Vulcofac ACT 55 compounds. Figure 4. DOE with Vulcofac ACT 55 Compression Set Conclusion Vulcofac ACT 55 can be used as an accelerator in combination with a primary diamine to cure DuPont Vamac terpolymers. Nevertheless, some compound adjustments are necessary to meet properties of existing Vamac compounds based on DOTG. Materials Used in Formulations General Composition and Supplier Material Composition Supplier Polymer Vamac G Ethylene Acrylic Elastomer DuPont Release Aids Armeen 18D Octadecyl Amine Akzo Nobel Ofalub SEO Complex Organic phosphate ester Safic-Alcan Vanfre VAM Complex Organic phosphate ester R.T. Vanderbilt Stearic Acid Stearic Acid Sigma Aldrich Chemie Antioxidants Naugard 445 Diphenyl Amine Uniroyal Chemical Plasticizers Rhenosin W759 Mixed Ether/Ester Plasticizer Rhein Chemie Nycoflex ADB 30 Mixed Ether/Ester Plasticizer Safic-Alcan Fillers Spheron SO N550 Carbon Black Cabot Corporation Curatives Rubber chem. Diak #1 Hexamethylene Diamine Carbamate DuPont Vulcofac HDC MB 75 Hexamethylene Diamine Carbamate Safic-Alcan Ekaland DOTG/C Di-ortho-tolyl Guanidine MLPC International Rhenogran DPG 80% Diphenyl Guanidine Rhein Chemie Vulcofac ACT 55 Animated Derivatives Safic-Alcan 5
Visit us at vamac.dupont.com Contact DuPont at the following regional locations: North America +800-222-8377 Greater China +86-400-8851-888 Latin America +0800 17 17 15 ASEAN +65-6586-3688 Europe, Middle East, Africa +41 22 717 51 11 Japan +81-3-5521-8484 The information set forth herein is furnished free of charge and is based on technical data that DuPont believes to be reliable and falls within the normal range of properties. It is intended for use by persons having technical skill, at their own discretion and risk. This data should not be used to establish specification limits nor used alone as the basis of design. Handling precaution information is given with the understanding that those using it will satisfy themselves that their particular conditions of use present no health or safety hazards. Since conditions of product use and disposal are outside our control, we make no warranties, express or implied, and assume no liability in connection with any use of this information. As with any product, evaluation under end-use conditions prior to specification is essential. Nothing herein is to be taken as a license to operate or a recommendation to infringe on patents. Caution: Do not use in medical applications involving permanent implantation in the human body. For other medical applications, discuss with your DuPont customer service representative and read Medical Caution Statement H-50103-3. Copyright 2010 DuPont. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont, The miracles of science, and Vamac are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved. (01/07) Reference No. VME-A10623-00-C0710 6